Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi expresses his support for Lionel Messi’s Argentina to triumph over England in tonight’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final encounter.
Mikel pointed out that England’s midfield has had difficulty managing spaces throughout the tournament and cautioned that Messi and Julián Álvarez will take advantage of these weaknesses.
Messi, Alvarez Will Expose England
He shared this insight on The Rest Is Football podcast, highlighting critical tactical and performance factors that lead him to favor Argentina.
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The ex-Chelsea star further remarked that the Argentine team and their iconic playmaker will ultimately possess too much skill for the English side.
“I’m a Messi fan, I want Argentina to win,” the AFCON 2013 champion stated on the Rest is Football podcast alongside Joe Cole, Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, and Gary Lineker.
“How do you stop Messi? We’ve all tried, and we’ve all failed. One thing I must say is that he’s simply a genius. He’s an exceptional player when we faced Barcelona.
“It’s just astonishing. A week prior to the match [Chelsea vs Barcelona], we would discuss strategies on how to contend with him, how to neutralize him. Mourinho always sought a solution.
England Will Struggle To Stop Messi
He also mentioned that it will be challenging for the Three Lions to defend against the Inter Miami star in a one-on-one situation.
“You can’t defend one-on-one against Messi; it’s impossible.
“Man-to-man? You could, but you don’t want to simply follow a player like that around. The way they circulate the ball to locate one individual, if it reaches him, everything shifts.
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“The manner in which he dribbles the ball makes it seem as if there’s a magnet at his feet. And his vision, the things he perceives, he is among the best passers globally. We often discuss his goals, but his passing is phenomenal.
“Argentina will emerge victorious. England have not been impressive; they’ve only had one strong half. Lionel Messi and Argentina will exploit the space in that midfield between Declan Rice and Anderson.
“Moreover, you wouldn’t want Declan Rice marking Messi tightly, as that would detract significantly from his game. That will be the area Messi will relish, and if he gets the ball there, you’re in trouble.
“For me, that’s where the match will be determined. The players supporting Messi know how to protect him. They’ve experienced it all, so considering that, Argentina holds the edge,” the former UEFA Europa League winner concluded.
